New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-24
BREAKING UP THE JEWELS.
A PICTURESQUE SCENE.

(OrTeSpOuutHCc
Several weeks ago the gentlemen OF the commission
made their first visit to the vaults OF the dOr
the purpose of sending an instalment OF the con-
aSDEsa sw sh Directors S u OF the Mint representative
of the Ecole des Mines and the Museum OF Natgtai
History, number OF experts, photograph er-ana an
acsr;can ALI these notables and accesso es-were III
attendance in addition to the commissioners. IL was
The esent of lifetime to descend on such an errand
INTO the deep and dark yaas OF ude he ong
cred table on which the gems were displayed under
the soft radiance OF the electric light' conversation
which had before been quite animated became mono,
sviab;c and hushed under the influence OF the weird
SMELL The Jewels are kept in a large, strong Do4,
which is deposited There .ns locks to the safe
each requiring different key, and one OF THESE ke!s
is in the possession OF each OF the three u
the commission Consequently the safe can be opened
only when all three are present az tne sahe .i .
hence this first of the drama really PatooK OF tns
character OF ceIemony 10 see Two eaa to anu ,ne
other and While all was suspense, each take his turn
apparently in a ruthless endeavor to 10y bare its
ths casEet sceae in The Merchant OF Venice" The
commissioners played their role OF "open sesame
with tue highest dramatic effect, and the jewels were
then taken from the box aud placed upon the table,
where a silyery shower from the electric light fell
nnon them and at the time illuminated the faces
al the company All eyes, which had heen nxeo upon
n Dannhn The Minister of Finances, who was master
OF ceremonies, we're rlveted upon the table -
Before asonished gaze appeared N cases o, an
Jewels crosses enriched with precious stones SWORDS
OF heavily engra sed gold, and-the imperial crown
They lay upon the table one blaze OF spienoer anu
for time all OF us los, in admiration AT length
an enormous diamond emerged from It's place OF con-
Shs md sEs enough the unique and
priceless gem worth dukedom at least. -, .,
First the jewels which were to be preserved on &C
count of their historic associations or their
artistic rarity had to be identified an laid
aside The principal OF these were The Regent, a
wonderful reiqaary brooch OF Triangular ofW; en-,
sword which is said TO have belonged TO Charles x,
rounted in 1924 watch OF the Dey OF Aigiers.
presented by aim to Louis A' o
enamelllng; a large engraved ruby, Representing =
cLmera, which 6gured in NE Golden Fleece l.,
nnrnre of III ecious stones of the time OF Louis XVI
one Of tho Mazarin diamonds and finally a small
dragon, ornamented with pearl mounted on
The stones which are to fiud resting place in the
museums were next examined: They include three
diamond ornaments three rubies, tweiye anetDystss
twenty.ons opals, thirteen pearls one lot OF SINAI
pears two lots OF turquoses one lot OF emeralds one
lot of topaz roses lot Of pearls one lot OF green
sss'insa Il" for the School OF Mines and composed Of
rabies. emeralds, sapphires and diamonds .cc
There remain tor the sale Ct the l2th q May
sappbires 3l2 emeralds, o2S turquoises, ~ opal'
and 400 miscellaneous stones. A large part OF the
isces parures and dadems, but the mountngs will bt
destroyed or their identity disguised without wholly
sscr6cng those Of historic Significance and the gem
will ultimately shiue upon the tables OF A. Escripc
the anct,oneer, in all their naked splendors
The work OF destruction wac meanwhile going on.
fee blows of the Lammer made of the imperial crown
nero lump OF goid ready to be taken to the mint M
benjamin. Raspai who, smarting under ,he recollec
lion OF his tream ent at the hands OF Napoleon ILL., ha
been one OF the leading spirits IN this proclamation
the names OF royalty had claimed himself the retri
butye satisfaction OF destroying the royal crown but
owing to q severe fall, he was confined to the house
and was therefore obliged to rest content with the in
strumeut Of destruction. the hammer, as souvenir
His absence s TO he regretted, tor the spectacle OF
man calmly knocking to pieces, with bis pwn hands
the crown of monarch by whom he had been perse
cutcd, would have been st angely dramatic and
phenomenon scarcely possible In any but these time
kfter = considerable time spent In dissectng tn
Sovels the task was suspended until week later
when the experts and their assistant jewellers agai
descended into the vaults and completed the work
destruction AL the precious metal obtained fror
che mountings carefully weighed and sent TO tn
mint Some Of the minor foreign decorations being
silver studded With roses were put into azotic acid
stones viii be deposited ct the bottom OF the vess'
An4 the Inevitable loss Of silver will be insignfcant
The sals, which u to take place at the Pavilion
tlores she Tuilleries will be en- imposing cer
Nony 1.-The Last ed rites Of royalty. II propose
- ornament the auedouhan with the most gorgeor
tAvosIeo and furnish it with easy chairs and table
from the sQarde Meuhlc," tor the sale has attracts
b pueh attention since the announcement that II WI
6eubtlssA b attended By people Of rank and wealt
BON every quarter OF the globe. ~ welt ~ by hui
1Re1s ef dealsrs
A 1AUR0AD kxPRRIBNCR
M 1As 1ssapA fSense1D1
1hs rohAekim o. tke Pm Handh Railroad re.aind